Siddaramaiah, BJP leaders step up Bagalkot bypoll campaign

Bagalkot: With chief minister Siddaramaiah arriving here Monday, campaigning intensified for the Bagalkot assembly bypoll. BJP state president BY Vijayendra and other leaders are also canvassing for BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath.Addressing a public rally, Siddaramaiah urged voters to back Umesh Meti, son of the late minister HY Meti. "If Bagalkot people want to express their condolences to the late minister HY Meti, they should support his son Umesh Meti under any condition," he said. He added that "Senior Meti played a crucial role in getting govt medical college in Bagalkot."The chief minister alleged that the Union govt has not issued a gazette notification for 13 years to implement the Krishna Water Tribunal verdict. "BJP did not give compensation to land losers for the Upper Krishna Project during their four years' tenure. We started giving it and completed it in three years. We have been giving Rs 52,000 crore every year for development works in the state," he claimed.Siddaramaiah campaigned in Sutagundar, Nainegali and surrounding villages.On the other side, Vijayendra said he would welcome former BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, if he joins the campaign. "Not only Yatnal, anybody can come for campaign in favour of BJP. Some Congress functionaries are also working in favour of BJP candidate," he said.Responding to minister MB Patil's remark that BJP had "20 doors", Vijayendra said the bypoll result would clarify the number of doors in Congress.Former deputy chief minister B Sriramulu alleged that Siddaramaiah won from Badami using fake votes. "He defeated me by illicit and illegal ways in 2018 assembly elections. This is revealed by his own associate CM Ibrahim," he said.